Happy Valley-Goose Bay, Newfoundland and Labrador - National Defence / Canadian Armed Forces
Today, Defence Minister Anita Anand and General Wayne Eyre, Chief of the Defence Staff (CDS), visited 5 Wing Goose Bay in Newfoundland and Labrador, where they met with members of the Canadian Armed Forces stationed at the base, and thanked them for their important work and dedication to protecting Canada. The Minister and the CDS were joined by Yvonne Jones, Member of Parliament for Labrador.
During her visit to CFB Goose Bay, Minister Anand received briefings on 5 Wing operations and toured the base. Strategically placed to protect North American airspace, 5 Wing Goose Bay conducts and supports a wide variety of operations, including both joint and combined training, with a primary focus on supporting The North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) operations. The Minister spent time at the Military Family Resource Centre where she had the opportunity to meet with Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) personnel and their families. Minister Anand thanked CAF members for the important contribution they make to Canada's safety and security, and recognized the important role that families play in supporting our military members.
Minister Anand highlighted that 5 Wing Goose Bay is one of four northern locations that will receive basing upgrades through infrastructure investments under Canada's NORAD modernization plan. As announced by Minister Anand in June, Canada will invest $38.6 billion over twenty years on an accrual basis to modernize the Canadian NORAD capabilities that protect North America and keep all Canadians safe. Of this funding, $15.68 billion is allocated for investments in new infrastructure and support capabilities across Canada, which will include funding for upgrades to air operations infrastructure at 5 Wing Goose Bay. These upgrades will enable Canada to better deploy and sustain operations across the country, including in the North - enhancing Canada's ability to defend our sovereignty and contribute to North American security.
Additionally, investments in NORAD will generate significant economic benefits and create jobs for Canadians across Canada including Newfoundland and Labrador, as well as in the North. Minister Anand stressed the importance of ongoing and meaningful engagement with Indigenous and Northern governments and organizations, which is critical for advancing reconciliation, and for the implementation of NORAD modernization.
At a time when autocratic regimes are threatening the rules-based international order and new, advanced weapons technologies are being developed by competitors, there is a strong need to modernize NORAD, the binational military command Canada shares with the United States that has kept Canadians safe for over 60 years. NORAD modernization is a long-term project, which will help ensure the Canadian Armed Forces' ability to protect Canadians against new and emerging military threats.
